TPMS disclaimed thread

[Spencer@tirerack]

From TR:

Acura/Honda

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are now impossible to run from when buying a new vehicle. Every new vehicle made for sale in the USA has a direct TPM system as standard equipment. There are several exceptions though: the vehicle must have only four wheels (so no dual-wheeled trucks or motorcycles), and the GVWR must be less than 10,000lbs.

We currently sell all sensors for all Honda and Acura vehicles up to the 2008 model year.

The basics of the direct TPMS is that it uses a sensor in the wheel/tire to wirelessly relay pressure back to the driver on some sort of display. Some vehicles have a digital info screen that will show all four tire pressures (five pressures if spare has sensor) all the time. While others might just flash a low-tire-pressure light on the dash. There are also two different styles of sensors for this system: a valve sensor and a strap/band sensor. Only valve sensors are used by Honda/Acura vehicles, although if you bought an aftermarket SmarTire TPM system, those use the sensors held on by a strap around the barrel of the wheel.

Although no model Honda or Acura has an indirect TPM system, I feel the need to explain it just to clear up any confusion. Any indirect system will not affect the choice of switching aftermarket wheels or tires. The system runs off of the ABS/wheel-speed sensors which “count” the number of revolutions of each tire. If the right-front tire is low (25psi) it will spin faster than the left-front tire (35psi), so the ABS system will recognize this change and alert the driver with a flashing light and possibly a loud chime.

Honda/Acura models currently only use sensors from TRW and Pacific. There are a total of six sensors used so be weary of which one is made for your vehicle. If you have any questions about the TPMS-fitment on a wheel that The Tire Rack sells, I can look up the wheel and confirm if it will work with your vehicle.

[Phalanx]

great info

[darna]

nice! this info is what i need.

[KEVtec]

nice info sir!

my question is-

Are the ones they sell in Tirerack same model as the oem TPMS?

[Spencer@tirerack]

Yes sir.

There isn't a massive aftermarket market (did I just use market twice??) out there that has legit sensors, and especially ones that work with the cars cpu.

[BLouIsGod]

If we go aftermarket, can we just transfer the oem sensors/valve stem to the tpms compatible wheel/ tire?

[Spencer@tirerack]

Yes, in most cases. As long as the wheel is TPMS compatible, absolutely.

[Chris157]

Great info here, it answers most, but not all of my questions:

So if you buy the sensors and install them in the new wheels the system will recognize them automatically and everything will work correctly? What about for running winter wheels/tires? Would I be able to switch back and forth easily? The reason I ask is I heard somewhere that the system would need to be reprogrammed to recognize the new sensors each time the wheels were changed.

I'm looking into buying an Si and I'm just trying to determine how much of a hastle the TPMS is going to be. Thanks in advance for the help.

[BLouIsGod]

I was thinking if you didnt have wheels with tpms, could you maybe remove the fuse for the system to disable it?

[Chris157]

I found this thread which answered my question about the sensors (they would probably need to be reprogrammed) and your question about the fuse (removing it will not make the warning light go out).

08 TPMS questions

[BLouIsGod]

seems just easier getting them puit into your new wheels.